Lasting machine



April 27, 1943. F. c. EASTMAN 2,317,366

LASTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May a, 1942 i ii April 27, 1943. F. c. EASTMAN LASTING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1942 5 Sheets-Shget 2 Figa April 27, 1943. F. c. EASTMAN I 2,317,366

LASTING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1942 3 Sheets-$heet 3 3a Avg/Wm? Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED "STATES PATEN QFFICE LASTING MACHINE Fred C. Eastman, Marblehead, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemingtcn, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 8, 1942, Serial No. 442,193

28 Claims.

This invention relates to lasting machines and is herein illustrated as applied to a power-operated toe-lasting machine constructed generally as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,160,846, granted on June 6, 1939 on an application of mine and A. F. Pyms, an object of the invention being to improve the operation of that machine on some kinds of work, especially on comparatively heavy uppers. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to machine organizations of that particular character.

Ihe machine shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent is provided with wipers arranged to wipe the toe end' of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the lastQand also with means for gripping the margin of the toe end of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last. Ihe present invention, in one aspect, provides in combination with such wipers and upper-gripping means a device, hereinafter referred to as a retarder, arranged to clamp the upper on the wipers and to cooperate with the latter and the upper-gripping means in such manner as to aiiord increased insurance that under any conditions the upper will be shaped tightly and smoothly over the last and the insole without the presence of any wrinkles such as would be visible in the finished shoe. In the construction shown the retarder is so positioned and controlled that it clamps the upper on the wipers first in a location farther outward than the edge of the last bottom after the upper has been subjected to a pull by the upper-gripping means and while it is held under tension thereby, and thereafter maintains clamping pressure on the upper in the course of the wiping operation. More particularly, as herein illustrated, the retarder thus controls the upper as it is wiped heightwise of the last by the wipers, while it is held under tension by the upper-gripping means, and continues so to control it as it is wiped inwardly over the insole after its release by the upper-gripping means, although preferably releasing the margin of the upper from the clamping pressure shortly prior to the completion of the inward wiping movements of the wipers. It

should be understood, however, that in some novel and useful aspects the invention is not limited to a construction in which the retarder controls the upper both in the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last and in the wiping of its marginal portion over the insole.

The invention further provides a novel organization including means for controlling a retarder by fluid pressure. In the construction shown the retarder is moved into operative position by a fluid-operated device from which fluid is thereafter permitted to escape under control of a relief valve in response to movement of the retarder heightwise of the last by the wipers in wiping the upper in that direction. In this manner the force applied to the upper by the retarder is kept substantially constant. Admission of fluid to the fluid-operated device-and exhaust of fluid therefrom to cause the retarder to moveinto operative position and later to release the margin of the upper from the clamping pressure are controlled by another 'valve operated automatically at the proper times in the cycle of operations of the machine. I

The above and other features of the invention, including also novel means to cause the retarder to move lengthwise as well as heightwise of the shoe toward and from operative position, novel means permitting the retarder to adjust itself to the upper in such manner-as to insure that it will apply adequate pressure to all portions of the upper between it and the wipers, and various novel details of construction and combinations of parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in right-hand side elevation of a machine generally similar to that shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent with the present invention embodied therein, parts of the structure being broken away; v

Fig. 2 is a View parly in righ -hand side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the relation of portions of the machine'to a shoe im mediately prior to the beginningof the toe-last! ing operation;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in rear elevation and partly in vertical section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows also a portion of the structure which appears in Fig. 2, as viewed partly in plan and partly in section in two planes represented by the lines IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is mainly a vertical sectional view of valve mechanism, shown in elevation in Fig. 1, for controlling the fluid which operates the retarder;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VIVI of Fig. 5;

Figs. '7 to' 10, inclusive, are sectional views illus.-. trating the relation of certain parts to the shoe at different times in the lasting operation; and

Fig. 11 is mainly a plan view illustrating the relation of the grippers, the wipers and the retarder to the shoe at the same time in the cycle of operations as in Fig. 7.

In view of the disclosure in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, only such parts of the machine as it is necessary to refer to for an understanding of the present invention will be hereinafter described. The shoe, shown as one of the welt type, is positioned for the lasting operation by a member 2 which engages the bottom face of the insole and also the inner face of the lip of the insole around the end and along the sides of the toe, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 11. This member accordingly determines the position of the shoe and its last heightwise, lengthwise, and laterally, and it also serves to support the lip of the insole against the inward pressure of the marginal portion of the upper thereon in the lasting operation. The member 2 is detachably mounted on a support 4 formed on the lower end of a rod 6 which is guided by bearings inthe frame for vertical adjustment effected by the turning of a threaded sleeve 8 by means of a hand wheel l0. After the shoe has been presented by the operator in the position determined by the member 2 it is clamped against this member by a toe rest I2 which is moved upward substantially at the beginning of the cycle of power operations of the machine, and the shoe is further controlled in the lasting operation by a heel rest [4 (Fig. 1) which is moved rearwardly into engagement with its heel-end face, as fully disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent.

For lasting the toe end of the shoe the machine is provided with a pair of wipers l6 which are advanced and closed to embrace the upper about the toe end of the last and are also moved upwardly to wipe the upper heigthwise of the last by upward swinging movement of a' wiper carrier It on which they are supported, after which the wipers are further advanced and closed to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the feather and against the lip of the insole.

Arranged to cooperate with the wipers in the lasting operation are three grippers comprising a toe-end gripper 20 arranged to grip the margin of the upper at the end of the toe and side grippers 22 (Fig. 11) arranged to grip its margin substantially at the corners of the toe. The jaws of these grippers are closed on the upper shortly after the beginning of the cycle of operations of the machine, after which the grippers are swung outwardly over the wipers and are moved upwardly to apply a pull to' the upper in time relation to theupward movements of the wipers, as hereinafter more particularly described.

For purposes of this invention the machine is provided with a retarder 24 which clamps the upper around the toe end of the last down on the wipers substantially at the time when the upwardly moving wipers arrive in position to apply an effective wipe to the upper heightwise of the last, and thereafter maintains its clamping pressure on the upper during the upwiping action of the wipers and also during a portion of the inward wiping movements of the wipers over the insole. The retarder is curved in general similarity to the curvature of the edge of the insole around the end and the corners of the toe, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and is provided midway between its opposite ends with upwardly extending lugs 25 pivotally connected" by a pin 28 extending lengthwise of the shoe to the lower end of a leaf spring 36. The retarder 24 is thus permitted to tip about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe so that it will bear evenly on the upper over both wipers. The leaf spring 30 is flexible in directions lengthwise of the shoe, for a purpose hereinafter explained, and is fastened at its upper end by a screw 32 to a bar 34. Fast on the lower end of this bar is a U-shaped clip 36 through which the lower end portion of the leaf spring 33 extends and. which serves to prevent any objectionable displacement of the spring relatively to the bar 34. The bar lies between two parallel arms 33 of a U-shaped bracket 40 which is fastened by screws 42 to a portion of the frame of the machine. Formed in these arms are slots 44 into which extend the opposite ends of a pin 45 carried by the bar 34. The slots 44 are provided with upper inclined portions by the action of which on the pin 46 the bar 34 is swung forwardly in response to itsupward movement to position the retarder 24 initially well away "from the grippers. wardly the inclined portions of the slots cause it to swing to a position in which the retarder is over the wipers, after which the bar is guided by lower vertical portions of the slots for downward movement into position to cause the retarder to clamp the upper on the wipers in a location farther outward than the edge of the last bottom. The bar 34 is thus moved upwardly and downwardly by a fluid-operated cylinder 48 to which its upper end is pivotally connected by a pin 5!]. The cylinder is located over the toe end of the shoe and is arranged to slide vertically on a piston 52' formed integral with a bracket 54 which is secured by a screw756 to the previously mentioned rod 6, the screw being, threaded in the bracket and having on its inner end a stud 58 extendinginto a recess in the rod. Springs 60 connected to the pin 50 and to a pin 6| in the bracket 54 tend to move the cylinder 48 upwardly and maintain it initially at the limit of its upward movement determined by its engagement with the bracket 54, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

A bore 62 (Fig. 2) extends vertically through the piston 52 and serves as a passageway through which fluid is admitted to the cylinder 48 and is exhausted from the cylinder. At its upper end this bore is in communication with'a passageway 64 (Fig. 4) in the bracket 54, and this passageway is in communication with a pipe 66 leading to a coupling 68. From this coupling a pipe ID extends to a port H in a valve casing 12 (Figs. 1,

5 and 6) secured to the lower portion of the frame. Mounted for oscillatory movements in a cylindrical bore in the valve casing is a valve i l. Formed in the valve casing is a port 16 which communicates through a pipe 18 with a continuously driven rotary pump 80. This pump is used in a machine of the illustrated type to force lubricating oil to parts of the machine which need to be lubricated, and conveniently the same oil is utilized for purposes of this invention to control the retarder 24. Oil is supplied to the pump through a pipe 82 from a reservoir 84 which is open at the top to permit oil to return to the reservoir. The valve 14 is provided in one side with a recess 85, and when the valve is in the normal position illustrated in Fig. 5 the port 78 is in communication through this recess with another port 88 which is in communication with a pipe 90 leading to the parts to be lubricated. To balance the pressure on opposite sides'of the valve and thus to avoid undue wear the recess 86 in. the valve is constantly When the bar is moved downin communication through a passageway 92 with a similar recess 94 in the opposite side of the valve. From the recess 86 a port 96 in the valve casing 12 leads to a safety valve 98 which is a ball valve normally held on its seat by a spring I compressibleby an adjusting scre I02. The spring I00 is of such strength that the valve opens to permit escape of oil only in the event of an abnormal obstruction to the flow of the oil through the pipe 90. The valve I4 is provided with an axial exhaust passage H34 which communicates through a lateral passage I06 in the valve with the port H leading to the pipe I0 when. the valve is in its normal position. Accordingly, the interior of the cylinder 48 is at this time open to exhaust, the cylinder being held at the limit of its upward movement by the springs 60. Any oil that escapes through the passage I04 returns by gravity to the reservoir 84.

To cause oil to enter the cylinder 48 and thus to cause the cylinder to be moved downwardly to carry the retarder 24 into upper-clamping position, the valve I4 is turned in a counterclockwise direction from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 to a position in which it covers the port 88 and opens communication between the ports H and I6, as a result of which the oil from the pump is prevented from flowing through the pipe 90 and passes into the pipe I0 leading to the cylinder 48. For thus operating the valve a crank arm I08 (Fig. 6) is secured to a stud Hi3 projecting from one end of the valve and is connected by a link H2 (Fig. 1) to one arm of a bellcrank lever H4 pivotally mounted on the frame. The other arm of this bell-crank lever has a forwardly extending end portion H6 ar anged to be engaged by a cam plate H5 which is fastened to a rotatable cam I20, this being one of several cams with which a machine of the illustrated type is provided. tation of the cam plate H8 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) serves to turn the valve I4 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 to the position in which it closes the port 88 and causes oil to be admitted to the cylinder 43.

I22 connected to the link II2 tends to raise the link and, when permitted, returns the valve 14 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5, the return movement of the valve being limited by a pin I24 mounted in the valve casing I2 and arranged to engage a flange 525 on the valve at one end of a slot I28 in the flange. From Fig. 6 it will be evident that the flange i25 on one end of the valve and the hub of the crank arm !08 at the other end thereof serve by engagement with the valve casing to hold the valve against axial movement in the casing.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the coupling 68 is in communication with a passageway i353 formed in a casting !32 which is fast on the top of the frame and that this passageway is normally closed at one end by a ball val e I34 held-on its seat by a spring Q35 mounted in a bore I38 in the casting. Ihe spring is seated at one end on a flange I49 formed on a rod which engages the valve and is controlled at other end by an adjusting screw M4 threaded in the casting E32 and rotatable by a hand wheel I46 to adjust the compression of the spring. the screw being provided with an axial bore which the rod !42 extends. The bore I38 in the casting I32 is in open communication with a pipe I48 through which any oil passing the valve returns to the reservoir 84. It will be evident that the valve I34 serves as a reli f valve to de- It will be understood that ro- A spring termine variably, in accordance with the adjust ment of the screw I44, the maximum pressure of the oil utilized to control the cylinder 48, the valve opening to permit escape of oil delivered by the pump when such maximum pressure is attained. It will also be evident that by reason of the presence of the relief valve uniform pressure of the retarder on the upper is maintained during the time the upper is clamped on the \vipers by the retarder, notwithstanding the fact that the retarder is moved upwardly in response to the upward wiping movements of the wipers, since oil is forced out of the cylinder 43 by such upward movement of the retarder Without any rise in the pressure. The previously mentioned spring I00 which controls the safety valve 98 is stronger than the spring I36 controlling the relief valve I34, and the safety valve, therefore, remains on its seat while the oil is used to control the retarder.

In order to prevent any oil which may leak between the cylinder 48 and the piston 52 from dropping on the shoe or on parts adjacent thereto, the cylinder is not only arranged with its closed end downward, but is further provided at its upper end with an annular groove I50 in communiaction with which is a pipe I52 movable upwardly and downwardly with the cylinder. A downwardly extending portion of this pipe telescopes with a stationary pipe I54 which leads downwardly toward the reservoir 84. It will be understood that any excess oil which may leak between the cylinder and the piston will enter the groove I50 and escape through the pipe I52. To provide better insurance that any oil which may be wiped upwardly over the piston 52 by the upward movement of the cylinder 43 will enter the groove I50, a small portion of the piston 52 which is opposite the groove I50 when the cylinder is at the limit of its upward movement is slightly reduced in diameter, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Further to assist in controlling the retarder 24, there is provided on the front face of one of the upwardly extending lugs 26 on the retarder a projection I56 arranged to enter a vertical slot I58 (Fig. 2) formed in a lug I60 (see also Fig. ll) arranged to extend rearwardly from the shoepositioning member 2 above the lip of the insole. The projection enters the slot near the end of the downward movement of the retarder, and the construction thus provided affords further insurance that the retarder will be properly positioned widthwise of the shoe at the time when the upper is first clamped between it and the wipers.

While it may be assumed that the cycle of operations of the machine is generally similar to that disclosed in the previously mentioned Letter's Patent, the construction is preferably such that the grippers will have pulled the upper'upwardly as well as outwardl over the wipers with substantially the full force required by the time the wipers in'their upward movements arrive in position to wipe the upper eifectively heightwise of the last, the grippers and the wipers being moved upward respectively by different cams; Early in the cycle of operations the valve '!4 is operated by the cam plate IIB to cause the admission of oil under pressure to the cylinder 48, and by the downward movement of the cylinder the retarder 24 is carried into'position to cause it to clamp the outspread upper on the wipers as soon asthe wipers arrive in position to begin an eifective upwiping action on the upper. It will be understood that the downward movement of the retarder will be limited by engagement of the pin 45 with the arms 38 at the lower ends of the slots 44 if the retarder arrives in position for clamping the upper before the wipers have been moved upwardly far enough to press the upper against it. Fig. 7 represents that point in the cycle when the upper is first clamped between the wipers and the retarder, The retarder is so positionedby the leaf spring 30 that its opposite ends, located at the sides of the toe, first become effective to clamp the upper on the wipers, after which the retarder is tipped against the resistance of the spring by the pressure of the upper on its ends to cause the other portions thereof also to clamp the upper, as will be evident from the fact that the spring 30 is bowed in Fig. '7 instead of being straight as in Fig. 2. This insures that the retarder will apply effective pressure to all portions of the upper between it and the wipers. It will be understood that the retarder engages the upper with a pressure determined by the adjustment of the spring I36 which controls the relief valve I34, this valve being opened by the pressure of the oil thereon to permit escape of the excess oil delivered by the pump and its return to the reservoir 84 as soon as the retarder arrives at the limit of its downward movement.

As the wipers continue their upward movements to wipe the upper heightwise of the last the retarder 24 is lifted by the action of the wipers thereon while holding the upper pressed smoothly down on the top faces of the wipers,

the upper slipping as required between the retarder and the wipers. In response to such upward movement of the retarder some of the oil is forced out of the cylinder 48, as permitted by the relief valve I34, the force applied to the upper by the retarder remaining constant by reason of the presence of this valve. The grippers preferably hold the upper throughout the greater portion at least of the upwiping action of the wipers, so that the upper is at this time under control both of the grippers and of the retarder, the grippers maintaining an effective tension on the upper and the retarder clamping it smoothly on the wipers while cooperating therewith to apply an additional upward pull to the upper. Fig. 8 represents that point in the cycle when the wipers complete their upward movements. At this time, or slightly before, the grippers preferably are opened to release the upper, which is thereafter held under tension by the clamping action of the retarder and the wipers thereon. The wipers are then advanced and closed'to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole, as illustrated in Fig. 9. In this operation the retarder by its action on the upper increases the effectiveness of the wipers'in wiping the upper tightly inward, while at the same time holding the margin of the upper smoothly outspread over the wipers to avoid the formation of any prominent wrinkles such as might be visible in the finished shoe. Preferably the valve 14 is released by the cam plate H8 to permit its return by the spring I22 in time to cause the cylinder 48 to be lifted by the springs 60 and thus to release the margin of the upper from the clamping pressure of the retarder before the wipers complete their inward wiping movements. Ihe point in the cycle when the upper is thus released from the pressure of the retarder is indicated by Fig. 9. Such release of the upper permits" the extreme margin-thereof to assume an upstanding position as the wipers complete their movements to force the upper against the lip of the insole, so that it will be in proper position to be trimmed thereafter above the lip of the insole. The point in the cycle when the wipers complete their inward movements is represented by Fig. 10. It may be assumed that the remainder of the cycle of operations is substantially as disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lasting machine, means for wiping a portion of an upper on a last into lasted position, means for gripping the margin of that portion of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a device arranged to clamp that portion of the upper on the wiping means first in a location farther outward than the edge of the last bottom to control the upper in the wiping operation, and means to cause said device thus to clampthe upper initially after it has been subjected to a pull by the uppergripping means and while it is held under tension thereby and to maintain the clamping pressure on the upper thereafter in the course of the wiping operation.

2. In a lasting machine, means for wiping a portion of an upper on a last into lasted position, means for gripping the margin of that portion of the upper and for pulling the upper outwardly over the wiping means to assist in shaping it over the last, a device arranged to clamp that portion of the upper outspread on the wiping means first in a location farther outward than the edge of the last bottom to control the upper in the wiping operation, and automatic means to cause said device thus to clamp the upper initially after, it has been subjected to an outward pull by the upper-gripping means and while itis held under tension thereby and to maintain the clamping pressure on the upper thereafter in the course of the wiping operation.

3. In a lasting machine, means for wiping a portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping the margin of that portion of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a device arranged to clamp that portion of the upper on the wiping means to control the upper in the wiping operation, and means to cause said device thus to clamp the upper initially after it has been subjected to a pull by the upper-gripping means and while it is held under tension thereby and to maintain the clamping pressure on the upper thereafter in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last and inwardly over the insole.

4. In a lasting machine, means for wiping a portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping the margin of that portion of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a device arranged to clamp that portion of the upper on the wiping means to control the upper in the wiping operation, and automatic means to cause said device thus to clamp and control the upper as it is wiped heightwise of the last while held under tension by the upper-gripping means and thereafter to maintain the clamping pressure on the upper during a portion at least of the wiping of the upper inwardly over the insole after its re- 7 lease by the upper-gripping means.

5. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of an upper on a last into lasted position, means for gripping the margin of the toe end of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a retarder arranged to clamp that portion of the upper on the wipers first in a location farther outward than the edge of the last bottom to control the upper in the wiping operation, and means for positioning said retarder in such relation to the wipers as to cause it thus to clamp the upper initially after the upper has been subjected to a pull by the upper-gripping means and while it is held under tension thereby and for maintain? ing the clamping pressure on the upper thereafter in the course of the wiping operation.

6. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of an upper on a last into lasted position, means for gripping the margin of the toe end of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a retarder arranged to clamp that portion of the upper on the wipers first in a location farther outward than the edge of the last bottom to control the upper in the wiping operation, and automatic means for positioning said retarder in such relation to the wipers as to cause it thus to clamp the upper initially after the upper has been subjected to a pull by the upper-gripping means and while it is held under tension thereby and for maintaining the clamping pressure on the upper thereafter during a portion of the wiping operation while the upper is still held under tension by the uppergripping means and during another portion of the wiping operation after release of the upper by the upper-gripping means.

7. In a lasting machine, Wipers movable to wipe the marginal portion of the toe end of an upper on a last inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping the margin of the toe end of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and automatic means to cause said retarder thus to clamp the upper while the upper is held under tension by the uppergripping means prior to the inward wiping movements of the wipers and to continue the clamping pressure on the upper as the wipers are moved inwardly after release of the upper by the uppergripping means.

8. In a lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the marginal portion of the toe end of an upper on a last inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping the margin of the toe end of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and automatic means to cause said retarder thus to clamp the upper while the upper is held under tension by the uppergripping means prior to the inward wiping movements of the wipers and thereafter to release the upper from the clamping pressure after its release by the upper-gripping means and when the Wipers have completed a portion only of their inward wiping movements.

9. In a lasting machine, wipers arranged to wipe the toe end of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping and pulling the toe end of the upper to maintain it under tension as it is wiped heightwise of the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and means to cause said retarder thus to clamp the upper while it is held under tension by the upper-gripping means prior to the inward wiping movements of the wipers and to maintain the clamping pressure on the upper during a port-ion at least of said inward movements of the wipers after release of the upper by the upper-gripping means.

10. In a lasting machine, Wipers arranged to Wipe the toe end of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and movable thereafter to Wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping and pulling the toe end of the upper to maintain it under tension as it is wiped heightwise of the last and for releasing the upper from the pull thereon prior to the inward wiping movements of the wipers, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and means to cause said retarder thus to clamp the upper while it is held under tension by the uppergripping means and to maintain the clamping pressure on the upper during a portion at least of the inward movements of the wipers.

11. In a lasting machine, wipers arranged to wipe the toe end of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and movable thereafter to Wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping and pulling the toe end of the upper to maintain it under tension as it is wiped heightwise of the last and for releasing the upper from the pull thereon prior to the inward wiping movements of the wipers, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and means to cause said retarder thus to clamp the upper while the upper is held under tension by the upper-gripping means and to maintain the clamping pressure thereon in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last and inwardly over the insole.

12. In a lasting machine, wipers arranged to wipe the toe end of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping and pulling the toe end of the upper to maintain it under tension as it is wiped heightwise of the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and means for moving said retarder into position to cause it thus to clamp the upper while the upper is held under tension by the upper-gripping means prior to any substantial wiping of the upper heightwise ofthe last by the wipers and for thereafter maintaming it in clamping engagement with the upper durlng the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last and during a portion at least of the inward wiping movements of the wipers.

13. In a lasting machine, wipers arranged to w pe the toe end of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the last, means for gripping and pulling the toe end of the upper and for holding it w th 1ts marginal portion outspread over the wipers as the upper is wiped heightwise of the last by the wipers, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and means for moving said retarder heightwise of the last into position to caus it thus to clamp the upper on the wipers While the upper is held under tension by the upper-gripping means and for maintaining it thereafter in clamping engagement with the upper as the upper is wiped heightwise of the last and during a portion at least of the inward wiping movements of the wipers.

14. In a lasting machine, wiping means movable heightwise of a last in engagement with an upper on the last, a retarder arranged to clamp the upper on said wiping means and movable heightwise of the last by said means, a device for controlling said retarder by fluid pressure to maintain it in clamping engagement with the upper, and means permitting escape of fluid from said device in response to the movement of the retarder heightwise of the last to maintain the force applied to the upper by the retarder substantially constant during the movement of the wiping means in that direction.

15. In a lasting machine, wipers movable heightwise of a last in wiping engagement with the the end of an upper on the last, a retarder arranged to clamp the upper on the wipers and movable heightwise of the last by the wipers, a device for controlling said retarder by fluid pressure to maintain it in clamping engagement with the upper, a relief valve arranged to pemit escape of fluid from said device in response to the movement of the retarder heightwise of the last to maintain the force applied to the upper by the retarder substantially constant during the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last by the wipers, and means for adjustably controlling said valve to vary the force applied to the upper by the retarder.

16. In a lasting machine, wipers movable heightwise of a last in wiping engagement'with the toe end of an upper on the last, a retarder'ior clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, a fluid-operated device for moving said retarder heightwise of the last into position for thus clamping the upper, the retarder being reversely movable by the wipers in the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last, and a spring-controlled relief valve arranged to permit escape of fluid from said device in response to the movement of the retarder heightwise of the last by the wipers to maintain the force applied to the upper by the retarder substantially constant.

17. In a lasting machine, means for wiping a portion of an upper on a last into lastedposition, a retarder for clamping the upper on said wiping means to control it in the wiping operation, a fiui'deoperated device for controlling said retarder 'to cause it thus to press on the upper, a pump for supplying lubricating oil, a conduit for conducting the oil toward 'a portion of the machine to be lubricated, and valve means movable to interrupt the flow of oil through said conduit and to direct the oil to said device for controlling the retarder.

18. In a lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the marginal portion of the toe end of an upper ona last inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, a device for controlling said retarder by fluid pressure to maintain it in clamping engagement with the upper, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said device, a relief valve movable in response to pressure of the fluid'thereon to limit the pressure thus applied to the upper, and a valve movable to permit exhaust of fluid from said device and thereby to release the upper from the pressure of the retarder prior to the completion of the inward wiping movements of th wipers.

19. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the ames toe end of an upper on a last into lasted posi tion, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers with pressure directed heightwise of the shoe to control the upper in the wiping operation, and'a cylinder-and-piston deviceiocated'substantially over the 17% end of the shoe forcontrolling the retarder by fluid pressure to causeit thus to press'theupper ont'he Wipers. v

20. In a lasting machine; wipers'for'wiping'fthe toe end of an upper on a last-into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upper onthe wipers with pressure directed heightwise of the shoe to control the upper in the wiping operation, and a cylinder-and-piston device located substantially over the shoe for controlling the retarder by fluid pressure, said device comprising a substantially vertical cylinder closed at its lower end and a piston in the cylinder relatively to which the cylinder is movable to control the retarder.

21. In a lasting machina'wipers for wipingthe toe end of an upper on a last into lasted position, means for gripping the margin of the toe end'of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, aret'arder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, and means for maintaining said retarder initially in a position retracted lengthwise of the last in a heelward direction from said upper-gripping means and for moving it from that position both lengthwise and heightwise of th last into position to clamp the upper'on the wipers in a location farther outward lengthwise of the last than the edge of the last bottom 22. In a lasting machine, wipers forjwiping the toe end of an upper on a last into lasted position, means for gripping the margin of the toe end of the upper and for pulling the upper to assist in shaping it over the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, a support for said retarder movable heightwise of the last to carry the retarder into position to clamp the upper on the wipers in a location farther outward lengthwise of the last than the edge of the last'bottom, and guiding means arranged to act on said support in response to its movement heightwise of the last to cause the support to carry the retarder'also lengthwise of the last toward'said upper-gripping means from a position in which itis initially retracted in a heelward direction from the uppergripping means.

23. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe end of an upper on a last into lasted position, a retarder'for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, a support for said retarder movable heightwise of the last to carry the retarder into position for thus clamping the upper, and means for guiding said support in its movement, said guiding means having a guiding portion inclined relatively to the bottom of the last for imparting to the retarder also movement lengthwiseof the last and having another guiding portion extending in substantially perpendicular relation to the bottom of the last for controlling the retarder thereafter in its movement toward clamping position.

24. In a lasting machine; wipers for wiping the toe end of an upper on 'a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, a support for said retarder movable heightwise of the last to carry the retarder into position for thus clamping the upper, and "pin-and-slot guiding means for controlling said support to cause the retarder to have a component of movement lengthwise of the last and thereafter movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the last toward clamping position.

25. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe end of an upper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, a cylinder-and-piston device located substantially over the shoe for controlling said retarder by fluid pressure, said device comprising a substantially vertical cylinder closed at its lower end and a piston in the cylinder relatively to which the cylinder is movable to carry the retarder downwardly toward the shoe, and a support for said retarder mounted on said cylinder for swinging movements lengthwise of the shoe.

26. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe end of an upper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, said retarder being so formed as to engage the upper around the end and along portions at least of the sides of the toe and so arranged relatively to the wipers as to cause its ends first to clamp the upper on the wipers at the sides of the toe,

and a spring against the resistance of which the retarder is movable in response to the pressure of the upper on its ends to permit other portions of the retarder also to clamp the upper.

27. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe end of an upper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, said retarder being so formed as to engage the upper around the end and along portions at least of the sides of the toe, and a leaf spring arranged to support said retarder in position for its ends first to clamp the upper on the wipers at the sides of the toe, said spring being yieldable in response to the pressure of the upper on the ends of the retarder to permit other portions of the retarder also to clamp the upper.

28. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe end of an upper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers to control it in the wiping operation, said retarder being so formed as to engage the upper around the end and along portions at least of the sides of the toe, and a leaf spring extending heightwise of the last and supporting said retarder in a location substantially midway between its opposite ends, said spring being ar" ranged to cause the ends of the retarder first to clamp the upper on the wipers and being yieldable in response to the pressure of the upper on the ends of the retarder to permit other portions of the retarder also to clamp the upper.

FRED C. EASTMAN. 

